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Hey guys, I have a 4610 ford tractor that the power steering quit working on. I imagine it's the little pump but I'm not sure. Is there any way of checking it without just R&R with a new one?
It started out weak without the engine at full RPM now it's just dead without any assistance at all.

It"s an external pump on the left hand side of the block. Is it full of fluid? There"s a filter inside the pump that needs changinging every once in awhile (every 1000 hrs), It"s less than $10 and you have to remove the pump and take the reservior off to get access. I"d change that first.

Take the cap off the resevoir when the engine is running. If it appears to be circulating oil then you know the pump is turning... At that point I'd take the pump off and disassemble. Check to see if the housings are cut and the shaft bushings worn/gonzo. If they are, buy a new pump. If they're not then look at the releif valve in the pump. Could be some crap stuck in that and it's remaining open... More likely the pump is shot though...

No, don't take the pump off to change the filter. You probably need to remove the engine oil filter... and a steering cooler if it has one, then just remove the resevoir.
That said... the filter is a return filter so I don't expect that changing the filter will do anything for you other than liberate 20 bucks from you wallet. If the filter was bad the return releif valve would pop off or it would blow the filter to pieces... but it would still have steering pressure...

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